ASHLAND, Ohio — Soon to be 5th grader Ethan Higgins is a national champion at the age of 10.
“I am excited that I won,” said Higgins.
Higgins is the Nicholas Maxim Award manuscript winner in the 2021 Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, the prestigious handwriting competition that happens each fall. The contest has a goal to promote good penmanship and celebrate handwriting and is open to students in grades K-8.
“Does it shock me? Not really. Because he really tries hard, and he does an excellent job,” said Mrs. Cindy Priest, Ethan’s 4th grade teacher.
Higgins goes to St. Edwards School in Ashland where he has classes in everything from English to social studies, but one of his favorite subjects is handwriting. However, his nice handwriting didn’t come easy.
“There was a time he could barely hold that pencil, much less use it to form letters and make them pretty nice,” said Tammy Higgins, Ethan’s mom. “So he does great, and we’re really, really proud.”
Ethan has autism and has worked hard with his teachers and intervention specialists to get to where he is today.
“He works with his intervention specialist, and gets a lot of one-on-one time with his teachers,” said Tammy Higgins. “So they worked very, very hard from the time that he was very small. We’ve been working on correcting that grip on his holding his pencil, which has been tricky, but he makes it work for him. So he works very hard, and has come a very long way.”
“I think I did a good job,” said Ethan Higgins.
The Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest was created in 1991 and attracts around 80,000 participants each year. Entries are evaluated at the school and state level and state winners go on to compete at the national level. The Nicholas Maxim Award recognizes two special needs students who excel in manuscript and cursive.
So to Ethan and his family, the prizes he won are about more than just bragging rights and recognition, they symbolize growth and improvement.
“We’re so proud. And he just amazes us every day,” said Tammy Higgins.
“I am excited about next year’s competition,” added Ethan Higgins.
To learn more about the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting competition, click here.
